St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-01
RichIand County.


to discuss the climatic features which
residence of over fifteen years in this
county Richland( has made me familiar
with and therefore competent to weigh.
In the first place, during my entire
residence here, | have never known an
epidemic of any kind to have occurred
here among men OF beasts, and ''died
from old age'' is about the only cause to
be assigned to the few who have left
dents of Dakota.
The atmosphere is very light and dry,
which accounts ip great measure why,
with the temperature thirty OF forty
degrees below zero, we do not mind it
half as much as we would ten or twelve
degrees below zero in Montcalm county,
Michigan, where | formerly resided.
The past winter, which has been con-
sidered the most severe ever experienced
in the United States, did not block the
roads so team could not have got to
town, and only one day last winter were
we without mail, while from newspaper
accounts | CLEANED that roads in the
East were blocked two OF three weeks at
time.
Another feature of this climate is
the fact that drouth-nO matter how
prOtracted-d0eS not seem to affect the
crops materially OF course, no doubt
the soil is entitled to some credit on
this score, which goes to show we are
fortunate over head and under foot. In
my fifteen years residence in this coun-
try have only had occasion to call in a
most OF my nelghDOrS.
Another advantage well to dwell upon
for those seeking farm land is the cheap
ness with which the land can be secured
in vast quantity yet, and the CORE
spending increase of return as COM
pared with the high priced Eastern
land. in proof of which | send you very
conservative figures for opening up
160-acre farm.
Breaking 160 acres, $500: seed wheat,
S16S: seeding labor, $50: cutting 160 acres,
S256; marketing same, $40; total, $3.50;
5000 bushels ofswheat at 40 cents, S2,24O;
leaving balance of 81 900.
AS vegetable country this cannot be
beat. l raised 800 bushels of potatoes
to the acre right along.
The only advantage l see they have
over us is that in fruit raising, but |
feeble efforts that have made in that
line, that, with the time and care be-
slowed by our Eastern people, Dakota
will prove to be not far behind. For in
stance, l have about fifty bearing apple
trees, besides numerous currant bushes
and large strawberry patch, all of
which have done well, considering the
fact that | have left them to shift for
themselves.
In the stock line we certainly can
raise as fine as the East, and at less
expense, as grazing land in this country
is the richest | have seen: while hay
grows in such abundance that we find
no trouble to get enough to winter our
stock easily.
The soil is deep, black clay loan.
and will wear for twenty years without
need of fertiliZing.
For poor man this is certainly the
country, and / can refer them to the
fact that myself and neighbOrs, who
came here without dollar, you might
say (fOr only had S. to my name), to-
day have from 800 to $40 each under
cultivation, with fine house, plenty of
stock and all the necessary machinery;
and to any one who has little emery
| the same opportunities are still open.
| OF course, government land is not to he
had to speak of, yet school land and
railroad lands can be got with little u
no money to start with.
Our shipping facilities are getting
| better year by year, and we are being
drawn consequently nearer to the East
ern markets. and hence will enjoy bet
ter prices year by year as time rolls on.
In educational facilities we are not a
whit behind the East-school houses
| are springing up ON every side. and,
from statistics published, Dakota has
more schools than any state in the
Union.
To Eastern friends would say come
to country where you can break up
land and have a farm in year, and
forsake your heavy timbered farms,
where. just as you have cleared up a
piece of land, you find old age is upon
you and your work has been for some
one else to enjoy the fruits thereof.
Farming i'll Dakota is easy and pleas
ant. and not life of drudgery and toll.
l know whereof speak, as Ihad twenty
years experience in Michigan farming.
| T., Il MOORE